Printing-press



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

I E. P. EDGECOMB.

PRINTING PRESS.

No. 437,184. Patented Sept. 30, 1890.

1 11324.. Witnesses Inventor.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

E. P. EDGEOOMB. PRINTING PRESS.

Ila-437,184. Patented Sept. 30. 1890.

min/asses I nventor.

iii/"W QQZM (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

E. F. EDGEGOMB. PRINTING PRESS.

No. 437,184.. Petented se t. 30, 1890. e

' '(No Model.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 5. E. P. EDGEOOMB.

PRINTING PRESS.

Patented Sept. 30, 1890;

m Q g x /b i if: "I

mtnesses: \u) Inventor,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD F. EDGEOOMB, OF MIN OT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES H.

' MILLIKEN, OF POLAND, MAINE.

PRINTING-PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,184, datedSeptember 30, 1890. Application filed May 13, 1889. Serial No. 310,520.(No model.)

of the invention, which will enable others,

skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

- Figure l is a sectional view of my newlyorganized printing-press.Figs. 2 and 3 are details, partly in section, showing end and verticalsections, respectively, of the peculiar 1 5 printing andimpressioncylinders used in my invention. Figs. 4 and 5 are details, end view andvertical section, respectively, showing the construction of the peculiarmechanism used for registering the adjustment of one cylinderanditsmate,orof onepair of cylinders with another pair. Fig. 6 is adetail showing the reel-stand and the mechanism for adjusting andcentering a web of paper therein. Figs. 7 and 8 are other details of thereel- 2 5 stand. Fig. 9 isa side view of the printingpress, wherein isshown the disposition of the gears, whereby the second cylinder of eachpair registers with the first pair lying in the same horizontal plane.Fig. 10 is a side View 0 wherein is shown the disposition of the gearswhereby the several parts are driven, and also shows the mechanism forregistering one set of printing-cylinders with another set ofprinting-cylinders placed in the same vertical 5 plane.

Inthe draWingsI have shown simply those parts of a printing-press deemedindispensable to illustrate my features of invention, leaving out someparts which are common 0 and well known to those skilled in the art.

In the several figures of the drawings, the same reference-numerals areused to point out corresponding parts.

My invention relates to certain novel and ingenious improvements incontinuous webprinting presses. The invention is devoted more especiallyto the improvement of that class of printing-presses which print uponone or both sides of a web of paper, fabric, or

other material going once through the press.

In this class of printing-presses it is abso lutely essential that theprinting-forms should exactly register.

The nature of my invention and its several features consist in, thevarious constructions, 5 5 adaptations, and combinations of mechanicalparts, to be hereinafter specifically described, and pointed out in theclaims.

1 designates the main side frames of the printing-press, adapted tocarry all the oper- 6o ative parts.

2 are cylinders provided with shafts or spindles 3, which find proper orsuitable bearings in the main frames 1. The cylinders 2 may be eithertype or impression cylinders. 6 They are arranged in pairs. In theaccompanying drawings three pairs are shown. In practice, however, anydesired number of pairs may be employed according to the work to bedone.

The cylinders 2 are of peculiar construction, and constitute one'of thechief elements of my invention in printing presses. They are made asfollows: Disks 4 are affixed to each shaft 3 just inside the sides ofthe main 7 5 frames 1. In the periphery of each disk is cut a T-path 5.6 are bolts, the heads of which lie in the T-paths 5. 7 are platescurved to correspond with the periphery of the disks 4. The plates areprovided with perforations to fit the bolts 6, to which they are rigidlyconnected by means of nuts 8. The outside face of each plate 7 isfinished to a true surfacethat is, a surface smooth and even. Upon thissurface stereotype-plates and the like may be 8 5 fastened by anywell-known method, or the plate may be covered with a material whichwill constitute a tympan or impressing-plate.

The above method of attaching the plates to the disks has one greatadvantage, for by loosening the nuts 8 the plates 7 can be separatedfrom each other to any desired distance, can be entirely removed, or canbe pushed close together and form a true cylinder, which shall beentirely atype-cylinder or 5 entirely an impressing-cylinder, or acombination of these two-that is to say, a cylinder partly type andpartly impressing; or a pair of cylinders may be arranged each withalternate impressing-plates and type-plates, by

which means one pair of cylinders will print first upon one side andthen upon the other side of the paper. Thus a web of any material whilepassing between any pair of cylinders can be printed wholly upon oneside or upon both sides or at alternate intervals on opposite sides.

Another element of my invention consists in the novel mechanismsdesigned for adjusting the cylinders with relation to each other, sothat they can be readily put into exact register with each other. On theends of the spindles 3, outside the main frame, are setgears 9 and 9 Inthe outer face of each gear is cut a T-path 11, in which is placed thehead of a bolt 12. Near the periphery of each of the gears 9 and 9 isplaced a scale 13, graduated to fractional spaces to correspond to thecircumference of the cylinder. An index or finger 14 is rigidly affixedto the end of the spindle 3 by means of a pin 15. The bolt 12, lying inthe T-path 11, projects through the finger, and is provided at its endwith a thumb-nut 16 for rigidly clamping the index 14 and gear togetherat any desired point. In Fig. 9 there is shown parallel with gears 9 acorresponding vertical series of gears 9, and these gears 9 and 9' meshin pairs, as is also shown in said figure. The gears 9 in vertical line(best shown at the right in Fig. 9) are loosely afiixed to the shafts 3.The other gears 9', (shown in vertical line on this side of themachine,) are made integral with their shafts. Still referring to Fig.9, the indexcs 14 are firmly pinned to the shafts Each gear 9 and itsaccompanying index 14 can be firmly fastened together by means of thethumb-nut 1G and bolt 12. Thus in each instance a gear 9, index 14, andshaft 3 can be made practically rigid, so as to rotate together, as ifintegrally united. 011 the other side of the machine the gears 9 (seeFig. 10) are also loosely connected with their shafts, and by means oftheir accompanying indexes, thumb-nuts, and bolts can be made rigid,too, and caused to rotate with their shafts in the same manner as thegears 9, just as above set out. Power is applied by belt, as usual, tothe pulley 17, (see Fig. 10,) which also carries an intermediate gear19, meshing with and communicating power to the two lower gears 9 Theupper of these gears meshes with and rotates an intermediate gear 20,which in turn transmits the power to the top gear 9 By the above it willbe seen that each of the cylinder-gears, by which motion is transmittedfrom the main turning-gear to a pair of cylinders, and each of the gearsof a pair of cylinders which turns its mate or second cylinder, isprovided with the registering adjustment above described.

In a press which would be capable of printing in two or more differentplaces upon one or both sides of the web the cylinders would be made upof alternate plates-first a stereotype or type plate and then animpressingplate continuously around each cylinder. The

impressing-plate of one cylinder of each pair should be in exactrelation with the proper type-plate of its mate, (in the same horizontalplane,) and if when the plates were placed in position and a web ofpaper passed through the machine to print it was found they were not inproper adjustment with each other, the machine would be timed asfollows: The thumbnut on the side shown in Fig. 9 would be loosened toallow the index 14: to be freed from contact with the gear, andconsequently the gear 9 on the same horizontal line and meshing withgear 9 could then be moved in such a direction and at such a distance asthe sheet or printing was shown to be out of register by simply rotatingthe loose gear 9, which, in its movement, carries the gear 9'. Thisoperation is easily accomplished by the hand, or the same results can beaccomplished by swinging the index 14, which is pinned to the shaft 3,and turning the shaft and accompanying cylinder into register with thecorresponding cylinder in the pair. The thumbnut 16 would then befastened. A similar operation would be performed with each of the threepairs of cylinders, and when completed each cylinder of a pair would beadj usted in proper relation with its mate. If, after this was done, itwas found that the printing by the second pair of cylinders did notregister with that done by the first pair, then the adjustment upon theother side of the machine, (see Fig. 10,) whereby the cylinders areadjusted in the vertical plane, would be utilized until the work wasbrought into perfect register. By these two adjustments in a verticaland horizontal plane I am enabled to use any number of cylinders andprint any number of impressions.

For inking the cylinders any of the wellknown systems of inking-rollersmay be used. I have not considered it requisite to displayinking-rollers and details of mechanisms for working them, for thenature of my improvements has no relation to them.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 6, 7, and 8 show the details ofconstruction of the webreel to be used in connection with myprinting-press. The rolls of paper for perfectingpresses are usuallywound upon iron cores, which vary in internal diameter. In the usualmethod of mounting these rolls in the reel-stand it is customary to usea shaft smaller than the hole in the roll-core, upon which are two conesfastened by set-screws. In practice considerable time will be lost inadjusting the cones upon the roll-shaft, so as to bring the roll ofpaper into its proper place upon the shaft to feed directly into thepress. To obviate this difficulty, the following construction isresorted to: The reel-shaft 21 and cones 22 are made the same as inother reels. The ends of the reel-shaft 21 are journaled in suitableboxes 23 and 24 in the stand or frame 25. One of the journals of thereelshaft is a plain bearing, so as to allow the shaft to move freelylongitudinally through tally in the frame.

its bearing. with an enlargement or collar 28, which prevents thejournal from having any longitudinal movement other than a movementwhich may be given to the box 24 in which it works.-

This box is capable of being moved horizonbox 24, extends outwardly andturns to a right angle. At its outer end the arm is pierced by-athumb-screw 30, which is threaded into the frame 25. By turning thethumbscrew 30 in or out the box 24 can be moved longitudinally in itsseat, and with it the shaft 21 and roll of paper carried thereon. Thisadjustment enables the operator to bring the roll of paper into anydesired position without loss of time and inconvenience.

In Fig. 9, 31 designates the feed-roll, which is arranged at the top ofthe press and carries at one end a gear 32, which meshes with anintermediate gear 33. This intermediate gear engages the gear 9 upon thecylinder 2 just under it, and when the cylinder is in revolutiontransmits motion to the feed-roll. Riding-rolls for giving propertension to the feed are designated by 34 35.

36 shows in edge view the position of a series of endless bands or tapesfor carrying the web along through the press a-fter"it has passed theprinting-cylinders. These tapes pass over tape-rolls 37, 38,39, and 40.The forward travel of thet-apes, which is constant when the press is atwork, is accomplished by power transmitted from the lower left-handcylinder-gear 9 to the gears 41 and 42 through the intermediate gear 43.

44 and 45, Fig. 1, are rolls carrying suitable means for slitting theweb into any desired width or widths after it is printed. The roll 44carries a gear 46, Fig. 10. Rotation is imparted to the slitting-roll 44by power transmitted through the medium. of the intermediate gear 47,which is in mesh with the lower cylinder-gear 9 The gear 46, driving theslitting-roll, connects with an intermediate gear 48, which in turnmeshes with a gear 49, which imparts revolution to rolls 50 and 51,provided with proper adjuncts for transversely perforating or creasingthe printed web or strips.

I do not intend to use for the slitting or perforating any mechanismsnew to the art. Therefore I have simply shown the position in themachine of the rolls devoted to those purposes without entering into anyminute description of their construction.

3'" The rolls 52 53 are tension-rolls driven by any convenient means.They are held against each other with a light friction, and their. speedis slightly faster than the speed of the other rolls, to keep the webdrawn tight in its passage through the press while the severaloperations of printing are being performed.

The operation of the press is as follows: A

roll of paper is placed on the reel-shaft 21 and properly centered. Theend of the web is carried over the feed-roll 31 and is passed The otherjournal is provided- An arm 29, fixed to the.

between the first pair of cylinders 2 and receives its first impressionof printing. It is then carried vertically down ward in the pressbetween the successive pairs of plate-cylinders and impressing-cylindersuntil it reaches the tape-rolls 37 38. It passes between them and restsupon the tapes 36. The direction of, the paper is now changed to conformto the position of the tapes, by which it is carried along first to theslitting-rolls 44 45, and then to the perforating or creasing rolls 5O51. The paper is then passed between the tension-rolls 52 53 and out ofthe press.

The press herein represented has been explained thus far as especiallydesigned for ordinary letter-press printing with type or stereotypedplates upon paper from an endless web. I do not limit myself to thatstyle of printing, for, by a proper substitution of plates upon theseveral plate-cylinders and pairs of cylinders, and a proper change ofink in the inking-fountains, the press can be immediately transformedinto a perfecting color- 7 printing press, which will print in one or aplurality of colors or tints upon one or both sides of the web; or itmay be used as a combination-press capable of printing in colors at onepoint and in letter-press at another point. This great adaptability ofthe press to radically different kinds of printing and combinations ofthe same I am able to bring about by the peculiar construction of theprinting and impressing cylinders hereinbefore shown and explained.

VVhat' I claim as my invention, and desire to secure to myself byLetters Patent, is-

1. In a printing-press, the herein-described type or impressingcylinders, composed of the type or tympan carrying plates 7, incombination with the disks 4, each having a peripherical slot out into aT-path, and bolts 6, confined in said paths and projecting outwardly andprovided with nuts, whereby the plates 7 and disks 4 can be fastenedtogether at any desired point on the carrying-shaft, substantially asspecified.

2. The combination of the cylinders, with the cylinder -shaft 3 andindex 14 rigidly pinned thereon, a loose gear provided near itsperiphery with a graduated scale and'a T- path, and mechanisms adaptedto fasten the index and gear rigidly together, substantially as and forthe purposes described, whereby the cylinders can be adjusted and putinto exact register with each other.

3. In a printing'press, the combination, with the reel-stand 25, of theshaft 21, journaled at 23 and 24 in the side bars of said stand, whichshaft can move longitudinally in its bearing-box at 23,butis preventedfrom moving so in its bearing-box at24 on account of the collars 28 28on each side of said bearingbox, the arm 29, depending from the stand25, and the screw 30, passing through athreaded opening in said arm andbearing upon the bearing-box, so that said box can be moved in its seatby said screw and the position of the shaft thereby adjusted,substantially as specified.

4. The combination of the cylinder-shafts having, respectively, on oneside of the machine the vertical gears 9, adapted to be rigidlyadjusted, and the vertical and fixed gears 9', parallel to and meshingwith the former gears, and the gears 9 at the opposite side of themachine, and the intermediate gears 19 and 20, whereby the horizontaland vertical adjustment of the cylinders can be perfected.

5. In a printingpress, the herein-described cylinder, com posed of aseries of curved plates, the outside face of each finished to a truesurface and all secured in place, substantially in the manner and forthepurposes set forth, whereby stereotype-plates maybe fastened on thesurface or the surface may be covered with a suitable impressing-plate.

6. In a printing-press, the combination, with a pair of type andimpression cylinders, of the gears upon the shafts of said cylinders,one of the gears 9 being fast upon its shaft, the other gear 9 beingloose upon its shaft and provided with mechanism whereby a pair ofcylinders can be brought into exact registry, substantially as setforth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have ailixed mysignature in the presence of two Witnesses.

EDlVARD F. EDGECOHB.

\Vitnesses:

FRED C. ROLLINS, II. G. BRIGGS.

